Would there be anything but a sunny day on the grand ribbon
cutting of the Chloe Morgan Memorial Park?

The official ribbon cutting would be at Noon but there is
plenty to do before then to get ready. School is letting out today so the
children would be present in the afternoon and activities have been arranged for
them. There would be face painting, puppet shows, games and enough junk food to
keep them wired until the Fourth of July carnival.
The PCPD is sponsoring a DARE booth. The Ward House is sponsoring a child safety
booth where children can have pictures taken and get finger prints done as well.
The Gardening Club which had been so instrumental in providing the seedlings are
sponsoring a booth where children could plant their own flowers or vegetables.
The activities of the Gazebo are plotted down to the hour with speeches and
musical acts, underwritten by the Herald and the local radio and television
stations. There are even going to be fireworks after dark. The Ribbon Cutting is
going to be a launch of summer for the town of Port Charles and expectations are
high.
Faith arrives early checking things out. She keeps an eye on the sight lines.
Ned is planning on bringing the baby to this but would be arriving closer to the
actual ribbon cutting. She snorts when she sees the movie screen painted on the
building to the east side of the park. It's not just a movie screen but someone
has gone all out and painted curtains around it as well. She rolls her eyes. At
least there are plenty of paths thru the memorial park so she doesn't have to
worry about her heels sinking into the turf. On the west side of the park is a
building that is decorated with hanging baskets and ribbons highlighting the
positive impact the park has already made on the neighborhood.
Faith is just finishing up her walk thru when she spots AJ's hummer pulling up.
His landscaper climbs out of the back seat and gives a hand to the maid. AJ
comes around and gives his new wife a hand down from the oversized vehicle. Only
once they are all out of the vehicle and AJ has set the alarm does everyone turn
around and see Faith standing there. "I don't think you can park there." Faith
points to a sign. "Unless you're planning on being first in line?"

AJ sees the sign for the child safety seat installation
seminar along the curb. "I'll move the car."

Dawg excuses himself. "I gotta go. Mrs. Q wanted me to check
the sound system on the gazebo before helping out at the Garden Club booth."

"I need to drop off these to my Dad's Meals on Wheels booth."
Sally hesitates before leaving but Lydia waves her off.

"This is our first... public appearance. His Grandmother
invited us to this since there is no way she can get to the house with the
reporters there and until he has an elevator installed. Wilson has been acting
as courier with her missives but I didn't marry AJ to be locked in a house no
matter how lovely it is. As you said-- Fight fire with fire."

"Which is exactly why Lydia and I will be taking our turn at
the smoke detector booth that city hall is sponsoring." AJ comes up beside Lydia
and places a hand at her back.

"You'd think the pyros would be getting enough action on this
street already with all the controlled burns the Fire Department is doing taking
down the abandoned buildings, after all that's the way they got the park."

"What are you doing here, Faith?"

"Ned is bringing the kid down later once your
grandmother is
here and Dillon finishes up his last day at school. I'm just checking things out
before they arrive. Parking is going to be impossible." Faith looks around the
park again checking the windows carefully that look down at the park.

"It's a neighborhood park." AJ shrugs. "Most days that won't
be a problem."

"Oh Good! You're both here." Lila rolls up on AJ with the two
women. "AJ, will you help Reggie with the supplies? Faith, that blasted
volunteer from The Garden Club has cancelled on me at the very last minute. She
is afraid of the neighborhood." Lila rolls her eyes and then sighs in disgust.
"The children are looking forward to being able to take home some flowers from
this. They've been talking of nothing else all week." Lila holds up a gnarled
hand. "Reggie and Marshall are fully booked with their own obligations to get
this ready."

"You want me to make sure she doesn't cancel on you again?"
Faith asks sweetly with a predatory smile.

"Perhaps later, Dear." Lila puts the chair in gear. "But today
I need your hands. Both of your hands." Lila looks at Lydia. "I feel like I know
you already."

"Call me Lila dear. Or Grandmother. AJ needs to bring you by
the house. Edward and I have your wedding present there. AJ told me you aren't
taking deliveries at the house because of the press being such pests. Marshall
could have brought it over I know but I did want to meet you."

"AJ and I were considering all the furnishing you and Dr.
Monica sent over to be the wedding presents. It really made it so he could make
the new house a... home." Lydia replies.

"Oh no, Dear. That was you helping Monica out. She is already
planning on redecorating the west wing. And of course a housewarming present for
AJ." Lila rolls up on the Garden Club's booth that is two long tables put
together under a tent. There is plenty of room behind the tables for the plants,
peat pots and potting soil. "This is going to be just lovely. Now if only Skye
and Emily were here everything would be perfect; I'd have all of my
granddaughters with me. The regulars to the park already know I was bringing the
plants and potting soil. They may bring their own containers. Where is
Reginald?!"

"Right here." Reggie has a wheeled cart that is topped with
bags of potting soil and has a big rake stuck in it as well. "What do you need,
Mrs. Q?"

"I forgot my clipboards. For the signups."

Reggie snaps his fingers. "Right. I'll get them on the next
load." He positions the cart and then takes off again.

Faith leans over
and in a low voice that doesn't carry gives her own order. "Pace yourself, old
woman, or you won't even make it to the
ribbon cutting."

Lila gives her a glare and looks over at Lydia quickly to make
sure she hadn't heard anything. "Faith has done lovely things out at the cottage
with containers, really softened the lines. Decks are so... angular. I know
you've been directing Marshall for the project at your house, Lydia. But I don't
know how much gardening you've done in the past, Dear."

"Excellent. Then you can be in charge of the signups." Lila
nods. "I've been holding informal seminars while putting the park together and
Marshall thinks they should be more organized-- so the neighborhood won't have
to go to the community college the way he is. Reggie will be bringing back the
clipboards and you'll see what I mean."

Faith shrugs. If Lila isn't going to pace herself it's not her
problem. Reaching into her red leather clutch she pulls out the illegal
butterfly knife and with a flick of her wrist exposes the double edged blade.
Which causes both of the other women to catch their breath while they wait to
see what she is going to do next. Faith starts slicing the plastic bags the
potting soil is in and dumping the contents into the rolling cart. Then she uses
the rake to aerate the soil and stir it up. Once that is done she puts the
butterfly knife back and grabs her cell phone. "Bruno? Yeah, it's Faith. I need
Manny down here at the Memorial Park. And have him bring my gardening kit. He'll
know. No, you're with the kids. Yeah, see you before the ribbon cutting. Tell
Ned I'll be at the Gardening Club booth. Bruno... Bruno... if you don't stop
snickering I'm going to plant you the next time I see you.. Much better.
Manny. Now." Faith snaps the phone shut and then puts it away.

"Where do you want these?" AJ asks with a grin. He'd heard the
entire conversation.

Faith gives herself some room on one end of the tables for
partially filling the containers and marks off a spot. "Here is good. The far
end is going to be for the signups evidently."

AJ slides the flat of plants onto the table. "I figured there
would be more demand for flowers than veggies, so I'm bringing them out first."

"Yeah, whatever." Faith dismisses AJ's comment. But it doesn't
stop her from sticking a finger in one of the peat pots to check how dry it is.
Manny better remember to bring her watering can too.

AJ snickers and then goes over to nuzzle on his wife's neck.
"How you doing?"

"She's really quite... forceful isn't she?"

"Faith?"

"No, your grandmother. AJ, she said something about wanting
Skye and Emily here so she could have all of her granddaughters working in the
booth." Lydia says quietly just for AJ to hear.

"Can't do anything about Em but I'll call Skye and see if she
can get over here."

"In her grubbies."

"I'll warn her." AJ gives Lydia another kiss.

"I don't think this is a good idea."

"If I didn't get out of that apartment and get some fresh air
other than when I was up on the roof painting furniture-- I was going to go
crazy. Besides. This is Courtland St. Ric will never be here." Liz says
cheerfully as she takes Lucky's hand and twines her fingers in his. "It's a
great way to honor Chloe. She would have loved this. The paper said there was
going to be live music, face painting and even fireworks."

"Fireworks is right." Lucky keeps an eye out for Lansing.
Elizabeth might not think the guy would show up here but for once Courtland St.
is the place to be for something other than scoring drugs. It's looking like the
who's who of Port Charles. The place is lousy with Quartermaines of course since
it's the Chloe Morgan Memorial Park. And there is a strong police
presence because it is Courtland St. Taggart is running the DARE booth.
Commissioner Scorpio is wandering around the whole park. The kids are out of
school so he's seen Lucas with all of his friends.

"Lucky!"

Lucky turns around when he hears his name being called. "Hey
Lulu. Did Grandma bring you?"

"Niky and Penny." Lulu points to where she'd come from and
sure enough there is Nik and Penny checking out one of the booths but also
keeping an eye on baby sister. "They have face painting." Lulu's eyes are
pleading.

"I don't know, kiddo." Lucky hesitates just for show.

And in that time, Liz holds out her hand. "That is just
the booth I wanted to go to. I can't decide between a lady bug or a daisy. Tell
you what... you get one and I'll get the other." Before Lucky can say a word
they are gone.

"Damn."

"Lose your date, Bro?" Nik says wryly. But it doesn't stop him
from keeping Penny tucked close to his side. He'd almost not come to this--
considering it's because of Stavros that this is a Memorial park.

"Face painting. Just tell me you haven't seen Ric Lansing."

"No, but we haven't been looking for him either." Penny
answers after a quick nonverbal consult with Nik. "You think he's going to be
here?"

"I don't think anything else is going on in this town.
Everyone seems to be here." Lucky shrugs. "Gia is over at the Stallions booth
doing PR for the team and talking up the Stadium. Mrs. Q is at the Gardening Club
booth. Taggart is at the DARE booth. AJ was at the podium a bit ago doing some
speech and then I think I saw him go over to the Child Safety Seat area to help
out over there. Jax is staying at the playground end of the park... which is
good because Skye is at the Gardening booth and the restraining order is still
in effect. It's like invasion of the uptown crew."

This is the first time he's been down to
Courtland St. when it
wasn't to score some weed. Course he'd always been careful to come down here
kind of at dusk not wanting to be in this neighborhood after dark. He isn't
stupid. "I can't believe I'm down here. And my Uncle knows about it and
approves."

"I wouldn't be here if Uncle Mac wasn't." Maxie replies. "And
if I hadn't signed up for a shift at the face painting booth."

Kyle sees someone he knows and stiffens.
Shit "Yo."

Dawg stiffens too and looks around. "Look Dude, I'm not
working. And there isn't any of that going on in the park." Most of the dealers
are taking the day off and playing with their kids down by the playground. The
ones who are working are down at the far end of Courtland. Course that
would all change when the sun went down and the cops all headed back to their
side of town.

"Good. Way too many cops around here."

"Haven't seen you much." Dawg checks out Maxie while he is
talking to Kyle.

Kyle strings an arm around Maxie's neck and brings her in
close. "Been busy. You know how it is."

"Yeah, I guess. I gotta check in with my peeps. See ya." Dawg
strides off.

"Yeah, see ya." Kyle mutters.

"Who was that?" Maxie asks.

"My dealer. And the guy Beavis was with when he got caught by
the cops."

Maxie looks around. "If Mac saw you talking to him...."

"Yeah, I know. Lets go over to that face painting booth."

"Dillon, give me a hand here." Ned calls out.

Dillon and Georgie change direction and end up at the sound
table that Ned is standing by. "Ned, isn't it kinda... noisy?"

"Yeah, exactly. Would you take Kristina over to Faith and
Grandmother. Kristina seems to be loving it but Faith is going to kill me. I
didn't know I was going to end up running the sound board and I didn't bring any
ear protectors for the baby."

"I'll take her,
Mr. Ashton." Georgie holds her hands out to
take the baby.

Ned and Dillon's eyes meet and there is a mutual wince. "I
better take her, Georgie." Dillon intercepts Kristina before Georgie can take
her. "Just until we get to Faith."

"Oh. Right." Georgie reaches for the stroller that has the
diaper bag tucked into the bottom. "I'll just bring this."

"Thanks Georgie." Ned says gratefully. "Dillon, Alice was
going to stop by later to pick Kristina up after she'd seen everything. So even
if Faith is busy it won't be long." Dillon carries Kristina toward the Garden
Club booth and Georgie pushes the stroller. They only stop long enough to buy a
balloon for Kristina which Georgie ties to the stroller.

Business is booming at the booth, there isn't really a line
but there are a number of people standing at the booth. Some at one end signing
up for seminars with Lydia and talking to Lila. At the other end, Skye is doing
a quick consult with Faith about a container offered by a child on the other
side of the table.

"Your mom know you brought this?" Faith asks the kid.

"I picked it up on the street. Nobody wanted it." The child
says defensively.

Faith eyes the copper tea kettle missing its lid. "It'll work
for awhile but then the bottom will start rusting out cause you are going to
have to water it." She warns.

"Okay."

"Lots of light in your room or just some?"

"Some."

Skye goes over to the racks of plants behind her and grabs
two. "Faith?"

"Perfect." Faith holds the two plants out to the little girl.
"Okay, here is the deal. Neither of these plants like lots of sun. You leave
them outside on a sunny day they'll burn to a crisp, roll up their leaves and
die." Faith waits until the child nods and then continues. "AND they
don't put out flowers, BUT you treat them right and they'll keep going
and going. You could take this plant with you when you move out and get your own
place. You give them a place to trail and they'll grow all the way round your
room."

The girl nods seriously and then points. "I want the purple
one."

"Figured." Faith puts the
philodendron back and works with the
wandering jew. She fills the teapot up to the spout level and then funnels one
of the stems down the spout and into the planting medium. Adding more potting
soil she puts the rest of the plant from the smaller pot into the opening on
top. Then she gives the plant a good drink of water and hands the tea kettle
back to the little girl by the handle. "There you go. Check in with Mrs. Q to
make sure I did it right and to sign up for the container class." Faith orders.

"The Container class?"

"You brought in the most original container so far. Most
people have just been bringing in buckets. You did great." Skye compliments. "In
fact if you don't mind, I'd really like to get a picture of you with your
plant." She goes over to her purse and grabs her camera. Coming around to the
front of the booth she takes a quick couple of pictures. "Perfect. Thank you."

"Thanks." The little girl replies. Then she goes over to the
elderly lady in the wheel chair. "Mrs. Q, the lady wants you to check the plant
to make sure it's okay. And she says I should sign up for the container class."

"I think that is a very good idea." Lila agrees. "What did
Faith tell you about your new plant?"

"The Lady said some sun but not a lot cause it'll get crispy
and die."

"And don't water too much because you don't have any holes in
the kettle for the extra water to drain out. A little water more often not a lot
of water at one time." Lila counsels. "If you have questions there will normally
be someone in the gardens that can help you."

"Okay." The little girl runs off carefully hanging onto the
tea kettle by the handle and making sure that it's held steady.

"I think you made another convert,
Mrs. Q."

"Coleman!" Lila holds a hand out to Skye's beau.

Cole kneels down next to the wheelchair. "Been checking out
the park. Everyone's talking about your booth.... and the gorgeous women running
it."

Lila gives Coleman a little pat on the back of his hand. "Have
you come to steal Skye away?"

"Maybe for a little while. Go listen to some music. Maybe get
her to dance with me."

"Scoundrel."

"Guilty." Cole gives her a
lopsided grin.

"Grandmother, is Faith still here?" Lila turns the chair when
she hears Dillon calling out to her.

Faith ducks her head out of the booth. "What the hell are you
doing with Kristina?"

"Ned is working the sound board. He thought it was too loud
for the baby."

"Damn straight." Faith agrees coming out from behind the
table. "If I would have caught him at it I would have fired off a 9mm next to
his ear and see how he likes it!"

Dillon winces. "Yeah, I'm sure that
occurred to him too."

"Faith, Darling." Lila has a hint of wheedle in her tone.

"Fine, fine." Faith takes the baby from Dillon and places her
in Lila's arms making she that she has one arm around to support as well since
Kristina had a habit of going and doing what she liked, when she liked.

Lila starts cooing at the baby. Skye is glad she still has her
camera out and starts snapping pictures. Coleman comes over and takes the camera
from her. "Go ahead. Let me get some with you in the picture."

"Are you sure?"

He gives her a brushing motion as if scooting her over there.
"Lydia right? Get in here."

"Yes, I should have a picture with my granddaughters." Lila
insists. "Lydia, Skye come over here."

"At least I'm wearing something that can be puked on this
time." Skye says wryly as she leans down by the other side of the chair and
looks over toward Cole.

"Kristina hasn't hurled on anyone in..." Faith shrugs.

"Since she started in on the grown up food." Dillon starts
making faces at the baby from beside Cole to get her looking in the right
directions. "Now she just throws stuff-- cheerios, spaghetto's, jello. It ends in
O she gives it a go."

"She's such a beautiful baby." Lydia says softly. "Oh look at
those dimples, and that curly hair."

"Kristina looks just like Ned as a baby." Lila declares.

"Will you just take the damn picture?!" Faith demands. "I
swear Cole that Charlies Angel's fantasy you've got going is older than the
shirt you're wearing. Skye, I can give you the name of the guy at the men's
department at Wyndams. They deliver."

"Hey. I like this shirt." Cole protests. "No teaming up." But
figuring that the longer they are together the more likely it is that they
will team up he quickly snaps off a picture and another just to be on the
safe side. "And now if you'll excuse me." He hands Dillon the camera. "I think
they're playing our song." He comes over and takes Skye's hand. "Good seeing
you, Mrs. Q."

"Good seeing you too, Coleman."

Maxie and Liz work from the same paints decorating small
children who hold their faces up and close their eyes waiting to be transformed.
Maxie keeps it simple with ladybugs and flowers and on a few-- some whiskers.
Liz gets a little more fanciful on kids that are old enough to sit still while
she transforms them into lions or tigers or fairy princesses. She is so involved
in what she is doing she doesn't notice until she's finished, the problem that
has just landed in front of her. "There you go. What do you think?"

"I look SCARY!" The Tiger Boy grimaces in the mirror and then
grins at the artist.

"Yep. All done. Okay, who is next?" As the little boy runs
off, Liz looks up and then blanches. "Ric."

Maxie knows there is trouble even if she doesn't know what it
is and starts looking around. "Kyle!" She waves her hand to get his attention.
"Get Mac." Maxie takes Liz's hand. "My Uncle Mac, the Police Commissioner, is on
his way over here. I think it's time for you to leave."

"I just need a couple of minutes." Ric pleads his gaze never
leaving Elizabeth's face-- searching for the minute changes-- was her face a
little rounder, did she have a special glow?

"Why won't you get it?! The thought of you-- the look of you
makes me want to throw up. I look at you and I get sick to my stomach. I think
of you touching me and I want to boil my skin off. You disgust me. I pray you
get a disease and your dick falls off." Liz rants.

"I know about my baby, Elizabeth. I know you're pregnant."

"You may be having a baby, but it's not with me." Liz
declares flatly. "I would never carry a rapist's baby. I'd throw myself down a
flight of stairs before I'd have your baby. This is my child." Liz
puts a hand over her still flat stomach.

Oh My GAWD! where is Uncle Mac?! Maxie starts looking
around for help because this is just insane. She sees Lucky running toward them
with Nikolas right behind him. She squeezes Liz's hand harder both of them are
white knuckling the other. Help is on the way. Help is on the way.

"Elizabeth would never have cheated on me! Never." Ric denies
it, but the work Audrey had done, hell even Faith back when she'd taken
possession of the Cellar from Carly, is a wedge in his confidence-- in his
sanity. If it had been anyone but Lucky claiming paternity... anyone but
Lucky.

"Lot of nights when you were out with Courtney, out with Carly.
Did you really think Elizabeth was sitting home twiddling her thumbs? Can you
really call it cheating? It's not like you two were exclusive. Didn't you ask
Courtney to marry you?"

"Ric knows you were at my studio that night, Lucky. I was your
alibi when Capelli was killed. Remember, Ric?" Liz taunts.

"I think you've outstayed your welcome,
Mr. Lansing, and should
be leaving." Nikolas orders as he steps on front of Maxie and Liz. "You can go
on your own or with a police escort."

Ric turns away and starts stalking out of the park just as Mac
and Kyle arrive. Maxie throws herself into Mac's arms. "Oh Mac, he was crazy. He
said awful things to Elizabeth and then he wouldn't leave and I didn't know what
he was going to do. If Lucky and Nikolas... if Kyle hadn't gotten you..." Maxie
shudders.

Mac rubs her back and then tilts her head back looks her in
the eye. "Find your sister and stay close to her. I have to check this out."

Maxie nods tearfully and steps back.

"The rest of you okay?" At the chorus of nods, Mac takes off
in the same direction as Lansing.

Kyle steps up and puts an arm around Maxie's shoulder. "Are
you okay-- really?"

At the Garden Club's booth Lydia and AJ are off dancing as are
Cole and Skye. Leaving Faith to run the damn booth since Reggie had wheeled a
protesting Lila away to the car and back to the mansion to make sure she didn't
get overtired. But Faith isn't in it alone-- Dawg is on one side of her and
Dillon on the other with Georgie down taking names on the sign up sheets.
Kristina had already headed home with Alice and Bruno. As soon as they ran out
of supplies they'll close up shop, and drag Ned away from the soundboard.

"Oh my gosh! What happened?! What did you do now, you
pervert?!" Georgie comes out from behind the table and runs to her sister's
side.

"Georgie, Maxie wants to go home." Kyle tells Maxie's sister.
He studiously avoids making eye contact with Dawg at the booth. Dawg does the
same. "I think that would be a real good idea."

"If you took us home then Mac would kill you as soon as
he got home." Georgie says practically. Her concern for Maxie is so great that
she isn't even giving Kyle a ration just the facts.

"Skye has her cell, Kyle." Faith's eyes are vigilant watching
everything. Lansing had killed Fowler, had tried to jump start the war that
never really ended between her and the crew at Morgan/Corinthos. Dillon picks up
on what Faith is doing and starts watching the crowd as well. Luckily most of
the action now is down by the gazebo where people are listening to music and
dancing. "Dillon, Dawg start packing this place up."

"Faith...." Dillon doesn't like the idea of leaving Faith. He
knows that Ric Lansing killed Fowler and if Faith did something stupid
then Bruno was going to have more than something to say.

"Don't fuck with me, Dillon! Pack it up now." She turns
on Kyle. "Are you going to call your Uncle or are you going to stand there with
your thumb up your ass?"

"You should have them on speed dial. Oh would you please stop
sniveling and make yourselves useful?! Pack up the tent!" Faith orders with a
snarl at Maxie and Georgie. "Brats. How did I get stuck babysitting brats?"

"Faith."

"What?!" Faith turns with a snarl toward Dillon. He is holding
out her red leather clutch bag. He knows exactly what is in it. Faith grabs it
and ducks it under her arm. "Good thing one of you is thinking."

"Keep it frosty, Faith." Dillon says soothingly. Bruno
should be doing this, not me. What the hell do I know? "You decided Ric
could wait... Mouse is handling it, right? You have other... fish to fry." Maybe
he's imagining it but he thinks he sees Faith relax just a little.

"Pack up the supplies."

"You got it, Faith."

"Is she always like that?" Dawg asks Georgie who happens to be
standing right next to him, stacking empty flats and consolidating left over
plants.